Wednesday, March 31, 2010

1. progressive views: a belief in tolerance and gradual reform in moral, religious, or political matters

2. politics political theory stressing individualism: a political ideology with its beginnings in western Europe that rejects authoritarian government and defends freedom of speech, association, and religion, and the right to own property

3. economics free-market economics: an economic theory in favor of free competition and minimal government regulation

Wow, what the Hell happened? Liberalism, as it is practiced today, is the antithesis of tolerance and individualism. We (still) have free speech but anything that doesn't conform to the Liberal call for bigger government is met with swift condemnation. Liberals certainly don't encourage the open exchange of ideas. But is this really new or have Liberals always exhibited intolerant and fascist tendencies? You be the judge:

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

I learned today that if all the stars align, and I mean to make sure they do, that I will have the incredible honor listening to Col. Allen West speak in person on April 13th. West is running for Congress in the 22nd district here in my home state. The seat is currently held by an Obama Democrat, but if anyone can change that it is West. The following will tell you everything you need to know about the kind of man Col. West is:

Back in 2003, few Americans had heard of Lt. Col. Allen West, then commanding a battalion of roughly 600 in Iraq.

Attacks on his platoon suddenly spiked, and his intelligence operations got wind of an Iraqi policeman having leaked their maneuvers, in advance, to Islamic terrorists. West got nowhere by interrogating the suspected collaborator for several hours. Ever mindful of his men’s safety — and of a rumored plot to assassinate him and attack the entire battalion — West drew his service revolver and fired near the man’s head. The policeman started talking.

West averted the plot, but also faced a potential court martial, and was called to testify before Congress. “I’d go through hell with a gasoline can” to save his men’s lives, a nonplussed West told Congress.

The Army merely fined West and relieved him of his command, ending his otherwise stellar 22-year Army career.

Col. West didn't think about his career. He thought about his men and he thought about his mission. He didn't hesitate. He did the right thing. How many men and women currently sitting in Congress choose their career over doing the right thing for their constituents just as a matter of course? I think we know the answer now that we've seen the results of the health care vote.

Clifford at Another Black Conservative linked the following video in his post announcing Sarah Palin's endorsement of Col. West. It is said that over 2 million have seen this video. Until tonight, I was not one of them. Having watched the video I can honestly say that I do not recall when I have been this inspired. I plan on watching it again and again, any time I have doubts that we can take our country back.

I found a nifty little video at At The Point of a Gun in which Paul Krugman clears up once and for all any misconceptions about "the panels" (note how everyone laughs about death panels and saving money, as if it is some kind of inside joke):

So, there you have it. In Krugman's own words-death panels save money and we have one but it is called an "advisory board". The panel will decide which treatments are "worth" the money and which are not and their decisions will be binding.

A friend of mine was showing off pictures of his great niece and great nephew the other day. The twins, who were born weighing barely a pound each at 27 weeks are cute as can be. Their great uncled beamed at the sight of the (now) healthy and happy infants. Whatever their care cost was worth every penny. But of course, that is my opinion and my opinion, unlike that of a faceless advisory board, is not binding.

It wasn't too long ago that Krugman mocked the ignorant Right for believing in death panels yet now, he embraces them as necessary to ObamaCare. It says a lot about Krugman's honesty and the honesty of the Left who have made it clear that they are more than willing to lie to get their agenda through.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Is it just a coincidence that environmentalism always seems to loop back to fascism? My theory is that people who are so vain that they believe that they can control Mother Nature’s hot flashes and sudden chills also believe that they should be in control of those of us who do not share their vast intellectual heft. Exhibit A (emphasis added):

Humans are too stupid to prevent climate change from radically impacting on our lives over the coming decades. This is the stark conclusion of James Lovelock, the globally respected environmental thinker and independent scientist who developed the Gaia theory.

"I don't think we're yet evolved to the point where we're clever enough to handle a complex a situation as climate change," said Lovelock in his first in-depth interview since the theft of the UEA emails last November. "The inertia of humans is so huge that you can't really do anything meaningful."

One of the main obstructions to meaningful action is "modern democracy", he added. "Even the best democracies agree that when a major war approaches, democracy must be put on hold for the time being. I have a feeling that climate change may be an issue as severe as a war. It may be necessary to put democracy on hold for a while."

Put democracy on hold for a while? How does Lovelock define “a while”? Just until the next ice age or until humans evolve to the point where they can control the Earth? In either case, I’d rather keep my democracy and let the free market do its thing to create technologies that energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

But where’s the fun in that? Environmentalists would rather wreck the economy in coal producing states and increase energy prices for all of us than allow the market do what it does best. Of course, the market works best when regulated least and for the environmentalists it is all about control.

Most of all, I don’t think that country without democracy is a country worth living in.

A bill empowering police to arrest illegal immigrants and charge them with trespassing for simply being in the state of Arizona, is likely just weeks away from becoming the toughest law of its kind anywhere in the country.

Already passed by the state's Senate and currently being reconciled with a similar version in the House, the bill would essentially criminalize the presence of the 460,000 illegal immigrants living in the state.

The measure allows police to detain people on the suspicion that they are illegal immigrants, outlaws citizens from employing day laborers, and makes it illegal for anyone to transport an illegal immigrant, even a family member, anywhere in the state.

The bill's supporters say a local crackdown has become a necessity because the federal government has failed to adequately seal the borders or actively enforce its laws. They blame Arizona's spiraling crime and unemployment rates on its large population of illegal immigrants.

A few weeks ago my daughter, who lives just outside of Sierra Vista, AZ, told me that one of her neighbors had gotten a knock on the door late at night. It was a group of illegals looking for a ride in to town. I would say that is a pretty good indication that A) there is a problem and B) the feds aren’t dealing with it.

Americans are pretty fair minded people. As Marco Rubio stated during his debate with Charlie Crist yesterday on Fox, we are “pro legal immigration.” We recognize the tremendous contributions that immigrants make to this country. However, many of us have a problem with immigrants who break the law by entering illegally or enter legally and then overstay their visas.

In either case, the federal government has done a poor job of dealing with the situation so maybe it is time to give the states a shot.

As with anything there are extremes in the immigration debate. There are those who would seal the borders and not let anyone in under any circumstances. We could do that but our country would be much poorer for it. Others would throw open the borders and let everyone in from everywhere for every reason. There are very practical arguments against that not the least of which might be that some foreign nationals would like to see us all dead. I prefer a more middling approach that would set up a lottery type system to allow immigrants in based on our needs. Yes, I do know that “needs” can be very subjective but we have to start somewhere and I have to believe that if we try really hard we are still capable of common sense.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Looks idyllic doesn't it? The picture is from BlissfieldMichigan.gov. I lived in the village of Blissfield until I was twelve years old. I haven't been back since I was a teenager but I have wonderful memories of the Hathaway House and Friday nights spent at the Riga Tavern. I remember the Towne Pump and the hardware store Mr. Ed owned. During the summer Mr. Ed would go around the neighborhood blowing his horn. We kids would jump in the bed of his pickup and he would take us all to the Tasty Freeze for ice cream. We played in the cornfields off Monroe Street and hung out at the Raisin River. A kid could ride their bike as far as their legs would pump. Sundays were for church and the VFW and American Legion were the center of the town's social life. It was a great place to be a kid. Blissfield is in Lenawee County. My heart darn near stopped when I saw this at Memeorandum:

By Lee Higgins
The FBI conducted raids Saturday night in Washtenaw County and Lenawee County in an investigation involving members of Hutaree, a Christian-oriented militia group based in Lenawee County, AnnArbor.com has learned.

The nature of those raids has not been made public. FBI Special Agent Jason Pack, who is based in Washington, D.C., said he did not know how many people were taken into custody. Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit, could not be reached for comment today.

“I can confirm that there is ongoing law enforcement activity in the Ann Arbor general area,” Pack said in a written statement. “Since the federal warrants are under court ordered seal, legally we cannot provide further comment at this time.”

Local Michigan militia member Jimmy Schiel said he was told five people were arrested – including one known member of Hutaree. Schiel said the five were reportedly arrested during a raid at a service in the Ann Arbor area for a Hutaree member who died recently. Schiel was told about eight Hutaree members were present. Schiel, who said he was invited but did not attend, spoke to a Hutaree member who was at the service, he said.

It has been reported in various outlets that the raids are not terrorism related and the groups are of no danger to the public, so what's the deal? I seem to remember reading somewhere that a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Without more information it is impossible to know why these people have been arrested but one would hope that it is unrelated to their right to form a militia or bear arms.

As christians we all are a part of the Souls of the Body of Christ, the one true church of Christ. Not any specific man made building or any man controlled organization. This is the belief of the Hutaree soldier, as should the belief of all followers in Christ be.

We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. All christians must know this and prepare, just as Christ commanded. Luke 22:35-37, And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36, Then he said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37, “For I say to you that this which is written must be accomplished in me: ‘And He was numbered with transgressors,’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” This clearly states the reason for the training and preparation of the Hutaree.

Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment. The only thing on earth to save the testimony and those who follow it, are the members of the testimony, til the return of Christ in the clouds. We, the Hutaree, are prepared to defend all those who belong to Christ and save those who aren’t. We will still spread the word, and fight to keep it, up to the time of the great coming.

I don't find anything in that particularly alarming or threatening. There are militias throughout the United States and the truth is despite the dire warnings of the Southern Poverty Law Center they go about their business without bringing harm to anyone. I am trying to not jump to conclusions as far as what the government's motives might be in carrying out these raids but I will say some in our government seem quite determined to paint conservatives and Christians as dangerous radicals.

I hope that once the details come out that we will find that the raids were justified. Right now, something about this just doesn't feel right.

The Dems are betting that the more the public knows about ObamaCare the more the public will love it. I would be willing to bet that even if ObamaCare were perfect in every way, and it is not, the average American still would not love, or even like, the idea of turning their most personal decisions over to Washington. But the truth is, as piece by piece of the 2000 page bill comes out, the worse the news becomes.

For instance, if you or a loved one is dependent on dialysis to live, you can kiss it off. What? You'll die without dialysis? Well, under ObamaCare, that's just too bad.

“Birds of a feather flock together.” “You can judge a man by the company he keeps.”

How about this, “One of my favorite senators is Lindsey Graham.” That came out today on Fox during the debate between Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio. That tells me all I need to know about what kind of senator Charlie Crist would make and strengthens my resolve to see to it that Marco Rubio is the next United Senator from the state of Florida.

Sen. Lindsey Graham seems to be doing everything in his power to piss off Republicans. Consider this:

The lonely leader for immigration reform legislation among Senate Republicans, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, is chafing at what he views as the White House's unwillingness to put political muscle behind the effort.

"The president promised to pass an immigration reform bill in his first year. They’ve done almost nothing in the White House on immigration," Graham said Sunday on NBC's "Meet The Press."

While the White House has been urging Graham and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to craft legislation and bring it to President Barack Obama, a frustrated Graham seemed to want to flip that process around.

"I urge the president to write a bill and see if he can get another Republican, see if he can convince the 16 Democrats who voted no last time," Graham said bitterly. "Let him do some heavy lifting here on immigration....Write a bill and send it to me. I'll be glad to look at it."

Among Senate Republicans, Graham has been essentially alone in working with the White House on immigration and climate change issues. But he ridiculed suggestions that he would be the key vote to win passage of major legislation on those fronts.

A central point to Graham’s immigration reform is amnesty. He would allow illegals to pay a fine, no doubt paid for with money earned illegally and at the expense of American workers, and then he would welcome them with open arms. Graham belongs to the “illegals do jobs that American’s don’t want to do” club. The real story is that American employers would rather pay illegals under the table, thus avoiding the regulation and taxes that is inherent in the hiring of Americans. It works like this:

The general contractor for ABC Builders hires a subcontractor who supplies the manpower to build your home. He pays the subcontractor in a single check, payable to the subcontractor, who then takes it to Amscot or some such similar place and cashes it. From the cash the subcontractor keeps his cut and then passes out the rest in cash to the workers. The workers are often paid right at or less than minimum wage, and there is no withholding for any of the taxes the rest of us pay. The contractor isn’t breaking the law because he didn't hire the illegals, the subcontractor did.

Look at any home being built in Florida and you will notice that the majority of the workers are immigrants and rarely, if ever, speak English. It wasn’t always like that. A man could earn a good living in construction but no builder is going to pay a starting wage of $15 to $18 an hour (plus, plus, plus) when he can get away with $7 an hour and not have to worry about paying his part of social security, Medicare, unemployment, etc.

If illegals are allowed to enter and work in the country legally, their wages will eventually near those of other Americans doing the same job. In the meantime, American workers are sitting on the bench and wages as a whole are being suppressed. But, allowing immigrants to enter the country should be based on filling a need in the host country. We don’t have a need to import construction workers. Further, I wouldn’t be surprised if the same couldn't be said of other industries if the employers would simply pay a decent wage.

But Graham isn’t thinking of the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs to illegal immigrants. They are not his concern. Somebody should let Sen. Graham know that American workers are our concern. If he wants to act contrary to the interests of American workers he should do it from the Democrat side of the aisle. And he can take his Cap & Trade with him.

But back to Crist. Graham’s policies are bad for America and bad for Florida. If Graham is an example of the kind of senator Crist aspires to be we all need to work to see to it that Charlie Crist never sees the Senate floor.

I've been anxiously awaiting the Rubio vs Crist debate ever since it was announced that Chris Wallace would be hosting the debate on Fox. Finally, the big day arrived and...I over slept. Yep. I tried to watch the debate this afternoon but the program was constantly interrupted. Fortunately, sick as she was, Pat got up out of bed and watched the debate blogging it both at And so it goes in Shreveport and Potluck.

From what I saw, Rubio was the clear winner. Crist simply did not want to discuss policy. Who can blame him? When forced, Crist sang the praises of the Stimulus. Yeah. Well, it has just been announced that Florida's unemployment rate is 12.2%. That stimulus is working out really well. Here's the exchange:

The voters in Florida have a very clear choice between Crist and Rubio. More my part, I will not be choosing this:

SMART DIPLOMACY: 327 House members tell Obama to make U-turn on US-Israeli relations. “The letter’s lead signatories were Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD). The letter had only circulated for three days last week before garnering 327 signatures, probably the most bipartisan effort seen on Capitol Hill in this session of Congress. It provides a measure of just how far out of the mainstream the Obama administration has gotten on relations with Israel. Moreover, they’re entirely correct. Thanks to what amounts to a reversal of 20 years of American policy on settlements in Jerusalem, Obama has given the Palestinians a reason to refuse to come to the table that Israel simply can’t address. Obama has made peace a lot less likely than it was fifteen months ago by throwing his tantrum in such a public manner. Weakening Israel won’t bring peace — it will bring more attacks on Israel as Palestinians begin to believe that the US won’t back its ally any longer.”

Our President agrees with those who believe that the Jews have business being in Jerusalem. Yet, Jerusalem has been home to the Jewish people for all time. Remember that fateful Sunday:

1And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent forth two of His disciples

2and said unto them, "Go your way into the village opposite you, and as soon as ye have entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon man never sat. Loose him and bring him.

3And if any man say unto you, `Why do ye this?' say ye that the Lord hath need of him, and straightway he will send him hither."

4And they went their way and found the colt tied outside by the door at a place where two ways met, and they loosed him.

5And certain of those who stood there said unto them, "What do ye, loosing the colt?"

6And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded, and they let them go.

7And they brought the colt to Jesus and cast their garments on him, and He sat upon him.

8And many spread their garments upon the way, and others cut down branches off the trees and strewed them upon the way.

9And those who went before, and those who followed, cried, saying, "Hosanna! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!

10Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

11And Jesus entered into Jerusalem and into the temple. And when He had looked round about upon all things, as now the eventide had come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Who is Barack Obama to tell the Jewish people that they can not live and build in the land of their fathers? The treatment that Benjamin Netanyahu received during his recent trip to Washington from Obama was shameful and embarrassing. But Obama's behavior did not diminish Netanyahu, he diminished himself. Instead of acting like the leader of the free world, he behaved like a spoiled brat.

The fate of the Christian and Jewish people will always be tied together. The same can be said of the American and Israeli people. Israel is our friend and ally in the Middle East. The same can not be said of any other country in that region. Should we allow the Muslims to succeed in their stated goal of wiping Israel off the map, they will then turn their full attention to us.

For reasons I do not understand, Obama has spent much of his presidency building a wall between us and our traditional allies. He may simply so arrogant that he believes that we do not need friends in the world. I worry that his vision of America is more in line with those countries who throughout history have eschewed freedom and liberty. Obama has made no secret of his desire to "re-define" America. The important question is "as what?".

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Yesterday on MSNBC, Representative Alan Grayson alleged that all Republicans have left is "fear and hatred." He then goes on to call for the total elimination the GOP, and not just in November: "We have to put end to the style of politics, and that means getting rid of Republicans entirely."

All of us? Every last one? Is he calling for us all to be sent to re-education camps or something else?

I'm glad this guy isn't a "hater". But somehow, he reminds me of someone-I just can't put my finger on it.

Poetic Justice: DemCare Starts Destroying Health Care Benefits for Two Million Union Members Starting in Just Nine Months

Remember how the President endlessly bragged that health care reform would never -- never! -- impact your existing health plans? You know, the "if you like your plan, you can keep it" shtick? Well, I know this comes as a shock, but he lied.

What no one appears to be pointing out is that DemCare specifically targets private sector union members first. Because of the dizzying new regulations imposed by the new law, "industrial concerns [and/or] those with unionized employees, say the end of the deduction could force them to ... curtail or even cancel them [health benefits]," according to The Los Angeles Times. That's right: most union retirees will have their cushy plans slammed by DemCare through changes in the tax code.

Wow, that sucks. Those darned unintended consequences appear when you least expect them, don't they? Well, I'm sure the union members won't mind taking it in the backside. After all, we're all in this together.

Favorite quote from the post:

Union members, it's time you started kicking the crap out of your union bigwigs -- politically speaking -- because:

Okay, it’s time to talk about Paul Ryan. The headline quote is from Mark McKinnon, who thinks Ryan is the real deal. Check out Ryan’s list of simple, effective, liberating proposals.

Ryan fans describe him as Jack Kemp on steroids. He believes that unbridled individual initiative, innovation, and industriousness lead to competitive advantage and national greatness.

Ryan outlined bold and muscular policy prescriptions for America’s most pressing problems in his “Roadmap for America’s Future.” Among the things his plan would do:

• Simplify the tax code: 10 percent of incomes up to $100,000 for joint filers and $50,000. for single filers; 25 percent on higher incomes (or you can continue to pay under current system). No deductions.

• Eliminate taxes on interest, capital gains, dividends and death.

• Preserve Medicare and Social Security benefits for anyone currently 55 or older, but replace Medicare benefits for people under 55 with a voucher that would average $11,000 a year that people could use to buy private insurance.

By reading my posts here, here, here, here and here, it becomes obvious that I am a Paul Ryan fan. He is young, dynamic, intelligent and he doesn't have a RINO bone in his body. Better, he is willing to state the politically unpopular without hemming and hawing. His "Roadmap for America’s Future" was immediately panned on the Left. Their objections to the solutions put forward by Ryan can be summed up in two words: it's mean. Pardon me while I go grab a hanky. When faced with a debt load that will equal 90% of GDP in ten years, feeding the public marshmallow pies isn't going to cut it.

I haven't decided who I'll vote for in 2012. I am concentrating on 2010. I will say that Ryan is exactly the kind of candidate I am looking for. When I hear that he is making a speech in Iowa I'll start thinking about President Ryan.

We've been told that it will take four years for the "upside" of ObamaCare to kick in-rationing, death panels, reduced standard of care, but the "downside" is already here:

It's been a banner week for Democrats: ObamaCare passed Congress in its final form on Thursday night, and the returns are already rolling in. Yesterday AT&T announced that it will be forced to make a $1 billion writedown due solely to the health bill, in what has become a wave of such corporate losses.

This wholesale destruction of wealth and capital came with more than ample warning. Turning over every couch cushion to make their new entitlement look affordable under Beltway accounting rules, Democrats decided to raise taxes on companies that do the public service of offering prescription drug benefits to their retirees instead of dumping them into Medicare. We and others warned this would lead to AT&T-like results, but like so many other ObamaCare objections Democrats waved them off as self-serving or "political."

AT&T is joining Caterpillar, John Deere, Verizon and Valero Energy, all who have announced in the last couple of days that ObamaCare is going to cost them millions of dollars and cause them to layoff workers, reduce benefits and raise prices. And we're not even one week in to this idiocy.

As the Wall Street Journal notes, Democrats are shocked that there are negative consequences to ObamaCare. Instead of the rainbows and unicorns that Dems were sure would magically appear to herald the advent a new era of domestic bliss in the country they've been greeted by the grim reality that their "historic" legislation will further tank an already muffed up economy.

Consequences are a bitch but necessary to the learning process. Granted, Dems are slow learners but I have to believe that the reality of the current situation will eventually sink in. I predict the Dems will see the light sometime around the first Tuesday this November.

The Democrats, who elevated "kill Bush" to the highest form of patriotism, are now calling for "civility":

Various members of the DNC — including Chairman Tim Kaine, Executive Director Jen O’Malley Dillon and Communications Director Brad Woodhouse — contacted their respective RNC counterparts this week in hopes of getting RNC Chairman Michael Steele to co-sign a document with Kaine that, in part, called for “elected officials of both parties to set an example of the civility we want to see in our citizenry.”

“We also call on all Americans to respect differences of opinion, to refrain from inappropriate forms of intimidation, to reject violence and vandalism, and to scale back rhetoric that might reasonably be misinterpreted by those prone to such behavior,” read the proposed joint statement...

The call for civility is a odd piece of disconnect coming from the people who had no problem, and in fact encouraged this:

Bless the RNC, they politely told the DNC to take their "civility statement" and put it where the sun don't shine.

Frankly, I'm in no mood to be lectured on civility by people who have called me a racist and a terrorist. In fact, I would tell the Democrats that if they wish me to treat them respectfully they could start by earning my respect. The hate and name calling originated on the left. The DNC needs to remove the log from its own eye.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Today is payday and after taxes your employer put $1,000 in your bank account. Out of that thousand bucks, nine hundred dollars is going to pay your debt. Keep in mind, food is not debt. Electricity is not debt. Gasoline is not debt. How ya feeling about your paycheck now?

Can you take care of your family on the ten cents on a dollar that is left after you've paid your debt? Can you prepare for your children's future? If not, what is the effect that the debt that you have incurred have on your children?

President Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget will generate nearly $10 trillion in cumulative budget deficits over the next 10 years, $1.2 trillion more than the administration projected, and raise the federal debt to 90 percent of the nation’s economic output by 2020, the Congressional Budget Office reported Thursday.

Don't fool yourself, when our country's debt reaches the point that it consumes 90% of GDP, it will impact our children. Their lives will be vastly different because of the debt that our government has incurred. Is this what you want for them?

What about our elderly? This country has five trillion dollars of unfunded obligations under Social Security and thirty-eight trillion dollars of unfunded obligations under Medicare. We promised those programs to our elderly and then we spent the money. On top of that, we now have yet another entitlement program, ObamaCare, that will demand even more money that simply doesn't exist.

Your family can't survive with 90% debt and neither can your country. The solutions aren't easy but they are necessary. Those of us in our "middle" years will need to sacrifice the most so that we can keep our promise to those who have already retired and provide our children with a better future. Most of all, our government has shown that it has no fiscal disipline so it is up to us to put our government on a buget.

As a Tea Party advocate myself, it came as news to me that my fellow "partyers" are pining for a government job. I don't want a government job and nor have I ever heard anyone at any of the several Tea Party events I've attended say I'm here angling for a government job. Yet, if Bloomberg says it, it must be true.

Here is what they have to support that title:

Tea Party activists, who are becoming a force in U.S. politics, want the federal government out of their lives except when it comes to creating jobs.

More than 90 percent of Tea Party backers interviewed in a new Bloomberg National Poll say the U.S. is verging more toward socialism than capitalism, the federal government is trying to control too many aspects of private life and more decisions should be made at the state level.

A. The US is becoming a socialist country CHECK
B. Our government is interfering in private decisions CHECK
C. Important decisions should be made on the state level CHECK

I following so far but I'm still not seeing how the title relates to the post.

At the same time, 70 percent of those who sympathize with the Tea Party, which organized protests this week against President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul, want a federal government that fosters job creation.

I am not a spokesperson for the Tea Party but I think I can analyze this poll with a little more credibility than the writer from Bloomberg. First, the only jobs that government creates are government jobs. It is the private sector that is the driver of employment in this country (for the time being). What members of the Tea Party want is for government to get the Hell out of the way and let the private sector do what it does best. So, if a pollster asked me if I wanted government to "foster" job creation, I would answer in the affirmative because I think government "fosters" job creation by chucking unnecessary regulations and lowering taxes. To interpret that as "wanting a government job" is simply a leap too far and incredibly, and given the post's tone, intentionally, misleading.

I am not accusing the writer, Heidi Przybyla, of having an agenda but throughout the article she couched the polls results in such a way that it isn't surprising that the article led to this reaction at firedoglake:

Thursday, March 25, 2010

There has been a slew of votes in the Senate as the Republicans, knowing they can't beat ObamaCare, are trying to pass amendments to limit the damage inherent in the bill. We know that the Dems, ala Binky and The Brain, are in favor of world domination at the expense of individual liberty but let's look at what they are against (h/t Michelle Malkin):

Somewhere deep in ObamaCare there is a $40,000 penalty for hiring the previously unemployed? ??? This is one of those legislative mysteries-I simply have no idea why it is in the bill, what it means or why Dems would penalize business for hiring people.

To reduce the cost of providing federally funded prescription drugs by eliminating fraudulent payments and prohibiting coverage of Viagra for child molesters and rapists and for drugs intended to induce abortion.

To make sure the President, Cabinet Members, all White House Senior staff and Congressional Committee and Leadership Staff are purchasing health insurance through the health insurance exchanges established by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Now look at your wives, daughters, mothers and sisters and know, here in the United States of America we will soon have the same lousy breast cancer survival rates as Canada and Great Britain thanks to our fine Democratic Senators. Thanks guys, you are something else.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

No, not against Pelosi & Co., they're not worth my effort. In the last few weeks the Republicans in the House have made me proud to be a Republican again. Because of their actions I am re-energized, re-focused and ready to fight. Then I see this at RedState:

Senate GOP Trying To Scuttle “Repeal It” Amendment

Senate sources confirm to me this evening that Senator Mitch McConnell and his leadership team are trying to scuttle Republican efforts to force a vote on repeal of the entire health care legislation during the reconciliation process. I’m told reliably that moderate Republican senators who voted against Obamacare in December do not want to vote against it again because it would just be “symbolic”. McConnell agrees and is not inclined to push Republicans to go along with any effort to force a vote on repeal during reconciliation, despite David Vitter offering up an amendment to do just that and separate stand alone legislation being offered by Senator Jim DeMint with a host of Republican co-sponsors.

It makes me want to walk up to McConnell and palm-smack him right in the forehead. And don't even get me started on Chuckles Grassley. What planet have these dolts been parked on lately? On top of everything else, Sen. Lindsay Graham is still working on a wildly unpopular immigration bill that could make millions of illegals eligible for ObamaCare. Perhaps our senators could benefit from reading Dan Riehl:

Wow! According to CBS, 41% of Democrats, 66% of Independents and 89% of Republicans want the GOP to continue to contest the health care bill. I guess in Axelrod's view, that means the public likes the GOP opposition so much, they just can't stand to see it end. heh!

Well, duh! We keep hearing that people are afraid that the Tea Party will splinter the Republican party vote. There wouldn't even be a Tea Party movement if Republicans like McConnell, Grassley and Graham would pull their heads out of their tailpipes and listen to the American people.

This country isn't in the mess it is in because of the Democrats. It is because of the spineless, rudderless Democrat Lites in the republican party. Grow a set, boys.

And may I just say thank goodness the children of the U of O have been spared from the horror of being subjected to speech that is contrary to the prescribed norms of the Northern Wussdom, Canada. Though I can't help thinking that rather than cancelling Ms. Coulter's appearance at U of O because of threats of violence, the school administrators might have been wiser to sit the bullies in a corner and had them write, "stick and stones might break my bones but words will never hurt me" one hundred times.

Coulter is scheduled to speak at the University of Calgary tomorrow. We can only hope that the students there are grown up enough to hear controversial words without resorting to hissy fits.

Since arriving in Canada I've been accused of thought crimes, threatened with criminal prosecution for speeches I hadn't yet given and denounced on the floor of the Parliament (which was nice because that one was on my "bucket list").

Posters advertising my speech have been officially banned, while posters denouncing me are plastered all over the University of Ottawa campus. Elected officials have been prohibited from attending my speeches. Also, the local clothing stores are fresh out of brown shirts.

In an effort to combat the nation's epidemic of childhood obesity, Supervisor Yeager is proposing Santa Clara County create an ordinance regulating fast food restaurants' ability to offer toys or other incentives with kids' meals.

"Ten out of 12 meals that are associated with the promotional toys are the high-caloric, high-fat, high-sodium meals," said Yeager.

You don't need parenting classes, or the government, to know that a steady diet of fast food isn't the best choice for children. You don't have to be a genius to know that children ask for the fast food meal because of the toy. However, children are not in charge of what the family eats, and if they are, the family has bigger problems than food issues.

It would be easy to blow this off as typical California silliness except, more and more, it is typical of government interference with adult decision making. How long will it be before the nanny state is using "smart meters" to turn off our lights so we will know the correct time to go night night?

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Excuse the caps, but HOLY CRAP! Obama didn't sign the Executive Order he negotiated with Bart Stupak on abortion. Major Garrett:

President Obama signed the Senate health care bill into law Tuesday. He did not sign the executive order on abortion negotiated with Michigan Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak in an 11th-hour arrangement that may well have saved the entire health care reform effort.

A White House official told Fox, Obama will not sign the Executive Order Tuesday and has set no specific date to do so. Stupak predicted Obama would sign the order later this week. The White House said only that Obama would sign the order "soon."

Wow. Bend over, Bart, you and hundreds of thousands of unborn babies have been screwed.

I assume the big question is what the Hell does this mean? Has Obama caved to pressure from the hairy legged women at NOW and NARAL? Is he trying to show Stupak who's the boss? Is he just too darn busy to keep his word? And most important, how darn puny is Stupak feeling right now?

I'm not often dumbfounded but right now I can't figure out who is the bigger jerk-Obama or Stupak. Yeah,I can. Stupak sold his honor cheap. Obama had no honor to sell.
More at:

I guess there are so many total morons in the pro-abortion lobby, the WH needs more time to carefully explain to each one that it's all just wink, wink, nudge, nudge BS, anyway, so they shouldn't give Obama any grief over it.

La Arrogant One is justing jerking Stupak around. He's pissed that Stupak didn't know his place and he is giving him a friendly reminder.

If the government can compel us to purchase health care, for our own good, what else can they force us to do? That is the question asked by Prof. Jacobson at Legal Insurrection. It was suggested in the comments that the government could force us to purchase a gym membership. Sounds reasonable (in our current Bizzaro World). After all, if we all exercised we would be healthier. Of course, merely owning a gym membership doesn't make us any healthier than merely owning a health insurance policy does. I guess our gyms could issue us membership cards that would record how often we go to the gym, how long we spend on each machine, etc., and transmit the info to the IRS who would tax us based on the amount of exercise we engage in per week.

While we're at it, wouldn't it be a good idea if the government compelled us each to follow the food pyramid? We would certainly be healthier. They could issue us all a card that we would swipe at the grocery store checkout or restaurant register and our purchases could be transmitted to the IRS who would tax us based on how closely we follow the FDA guidelines.

Now that I think about it, there is no end to the number of things that the government could compel us to do for our own good. We'd be better off, right?

That's a hard one isn't it? (no pun attended) Afterall, procreation is one of the most ingrained human instincts. Heck, even I get an itch in my twitch every once in awhile. One could even argue, and I wouldn't be the least surprised if the Dems do, that the "funky cold Medina" is a basic human right. You know, the pursuit of happiness...

Yep, the Dems are all about the "rights". I'm taking odds that Viagra is in.

Below is the current results of a cbsnews.com poll. Respondents are asked to grade Pres. Obama from A to F on ten categories. In my completely unscientific analysis of the poll, I would say the general consensus among the respondents is that Obama sucks. In all ten categories. Big time.

Note that this poll is being conducted by CBS, not some lunatic right wing racist teaba**ing site like, well, this one. Soooo, I think it is safe to say that bright, sparkly aura around Obama has dimmed.

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NOTE: This is not a scientific poll. The results above are for information purposes only, and should not be confused with the results of the scientific polls conducted by CBS News.

Eva Rodriguez of the Washington Post was turned off by the protest for “rights” on behalf of illegal aliens.

Her parents are legal immigrants who fled Castro’s Cuba.

Rodriguez wrote: “What I don’t understand is the claim by some at the march that those here illegally are somehow victims.

“Did they not choose to come to this country, and did they not know that they either entered illegally or illegally overstayed visas? Of course they did. Do they not appreciate that one of the things that makes this country great is the rule of law — unlike, sadly, some of the countries we leave behind? If so, undocumented immigrants must take responsibility for their plight.

“Finally, I found it offensive that some people in yesterday’s march waved the flags of Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador while demanding rights and privileges from this country. The flags and the demands for action ‘NOW!’ suggested a sort of arrogance and entitlement when humility would have been more in order. Perhaps these marchers meant the flags as symbols of cultural or ethnic identity and not as political banners of foreign sovereigns. Perhaps they meant absolutely no offense and are at once proud of their heritage and sincere in their desire to become Americans. I trust that they did.”

If you want to fly the Mexican flag only, stay in Mexico

Here in Florida we have a large population of Cubans. It is easy to argue that their presence improves this state immensely. While some among the younger generation don't share their parent's and grandparent's love of their homeland, or at least the homeland that existed once upon a time. That said, they take their citizenship very seriously and they honor the freedom that this country provides them as only people who have had freedom denied can.

Those who march in the streets demanding the privilege of citizenship and waive foreign flags while spitting on our laws bear no resemblance to the immigrants who came before them. There is more, much more, to citizenship than walking across the boarder and claiming a slew of "rights". Rights are earned. They can start the process by going home and re-entering legally.

Monday, March 22, 2010

In an Obamacare world, what is the GOP’s message? “We need to become the party of liberty and freedom,” Ryan argues. “We’re not doing enough. We can do better, and we will — because we have no choice. If we’re going to offer the country a completely different vision, we can’t be Democratic-lite or resign ourselves to be slightly more efficient managers and tax-collectors for the welfare state. We have to break with that and give people a clear and distinct difference.”

As Conservatives, we wandered off the farm. It happened. Now let's pull ourselves together and turn this thing around. Earlier today The Daley Gator called me optimistic. Well, I am. I have a candidate for the US Senate, Marco Rubio, that I really believe in. I believe that Mike Prendergast can unseat my local Rep., Kathy Castor, in the House. I believe that there is an absolute groundswell of dedicated people ready to take this country back. We've been kicked in the seat of the pants and we needed it.

"I think that the president and Nancy Pelosi get credit," Sharpton said. "I think this began the transforming of the country the way the president had promised. This is what he ran on."

And if that transformation is socialism, then so be it, he explained. That is what the American public "overwhelmingly" voted for.

"First of all, then we have to say the American public overwhelmingly voted for socialism when they elected President Obama," Sharpton said. "Let's not act as though the president didn't tell the American people - the president offered the American people health reform when he ran. He was overwhelmingly elected running on that and he has delivered what he promised."

No truer words have ever been spoken. At least not by the Rev. Al. Obama didn't hide his leanings or his intentions. It was all out there. But there are none so blind as those who will not see. There were a whole lot of people who would not see and now they feel like they've been bitch slapped. There were those of us who saw and tried our best to point out the path that Obama's election would lead us on but our fellow citizens closed their eyes, stuck their fingers in their ears and chanted "Yes, we can!" Yes, you did.

What's done is done and now it is time to start mopping up the mess. As The One once said, "Either grab a mop or get out of the way."

I understand that you have been invited by University of Ottawa Campus Conservatives to speak at the University of Ottawa this coming Tuesday. We are, of course, always delighted to welcome speakers on our campus and hope that they will contribute positively to the meaningful exchange of ideas that is the hallmark of a great university campus. We have a great respect for freedom of expression in Canada, as well as on our campus, and view it as a fundamental freedom, as recognized by our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I would, however, like to inform you, or perhaps remind you, that our domestic laws, both provincial and federal, delineate freedom of expression (or “free speech”) in a manner that is somewhat different than the approach taken in the United States. I therefore encourage you to educate yourself, if need be, as to what is acceptable in Canada and to do so before your planned visit here. You will realize that Canadian law puts reasonable limits on the freedom of expression. For example, promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges. Outside of the criminal realm, Canadian defamation laws also limit freedom of expression and may differ somewhat from those to which you are accustomed. I therefore ask you, while you are a guest on our campus, to weigh your words with respect and civility in mind. There is a strong tradition in Canada, including at this University, of restraint, respect and consideration in expressing even provocative and controversial opinions and urge you to respect that Canadian tradition while on our campus. Hopefully, you will understand and agree that what may, at first glance, seem like unnecessary restrictions to freedom of expression do, in fact, lead not only to a more civilized discussion, but to a more meaningful, reasoned and intelligent one as well.

I hope you will enjoy your stay in our beautiful country, city and campus.

Now that this has garnered its own Memeorandum thread, what the heck, I'll throw in my two cents.

I am an Ann Coulter fan. God bless her, Coulter doesn't have a politically correct bone in her body. Houle has thrown down the gauntlet and I am willing to bet that Ann will pick it up and slap him silly with it.

Look, Coulter is going to say whatever she pleases. The idea that she is expected to check her mouth at the border is ludicris. That she should be expected to stifle her right to free speech under penalty of law is beyond sad. I've been to Canada a couple of times and the country has some fine qualities. Shamefully, freedom can no longer be counted among them.

An unexpected thing happened this morning. I woke up feeling hopeful. In fact, I woke up feeling downright good.

At the morning meeting, an informal gathering of fellow co-workers dedicated to bitching (no work talk allowed), my co-workers were also reinvigorated. I checked my emails and had this from one of my credit union members:

This sign has gone up on I-75 just north of here.

I asked a friend if he had looked at the info I had given him on Mike Prendergast, who is running against Kathy Castor here in the 11th District. He answered that Kathey Castor is considered "safe". When I replied that Martha Coakley was considered "safe" he paused for a moment, smiled, and said, "so how's it going for Sen. Coakley?" Exactly.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

As I write this Rep. Stupak is announcing that he has caved. He knows that any Executive Order the President signs can be unsigned. Essentially, he has sold out millions of unborn children who thanks to him, will never come to be. Adding insult to injury, he is claiming that his position is pro-life.

Executive Orders have the weight of law but they can be overridden by Congress and Obama himself can call a mulligan. Stupak knows this. If he put his faith in Obama, he is a fool. If he put his faith in Congress, he is worse than a fool.

Stupak gets nothing out of this except his name in the paper. Nothing he gets will change a thing. It's a total sell-out of what he has claimed to believe in. Hope he enjoyed the camera face time while selling out so completely with nothing substantive in return.

I'm Catholic and I oppose abortion, but I wouldn't support a horrible bill like this one just because, one way or the other, abortion funding is prohibited (which, if Stupak is relying on the validity of an executive order, it won't be). You don't get a free pass by being a pro-life socialist, nitwit. And the fact that you must know that there's no way this government is going to let pro-life provisions stand, means your opposition to abortion is probably nothing but window dressing.

Stupak: the Sanctity of Life is Important to Us, Which is Why We Will Slash
Care for Old People and Further Enslave Children to Massive Deficits

Moments ago, Democrat Bart Stupak announced that a deal had been brokered between the President and the Democrat pro-life contingent in the House.

In exchange for their votes, the President will sign an Executive Order banning -- supposedly -- federal spending on abortions. Nancy Pelosi gets a dozen or so hard-fought votes that almost guarantee the successful passage of the Senate health care bill in the House.

His fundamental conflict is that he wants the bill to pass, even with the taxpayer funding for abortions, but he hopes to find a way to take a stand against that funding. It’s impossible. No wonder he’s trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Shame on him times 1000 if he goes for the flimsy cover of a sham executive order. Maybe Obama thinks he can issue edicts contrary to US law but I imagine Stupak and the American people know better. What a farce.

It truly amazes me that the left-wing of the Democratic Party, which foams at the mouth at the thought that the NSA might intercept a phone call from someone in the U.S. to a known al-Qaeda operative in Pakistan, is so willing to hand over to the government the power to control the most personal aspect of our lives.

Yes, once this thing passes "my body, my choice" will apply to abortion but little else. The government will own our bodies.

IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER, and the ObamaCare bill is clearly wildly unpopular. But if it does pass, the media message will be that the whole Tea Party movement has been a waste — when, in fact, without it this would have been passed nearly a year ago, and with far less political cost.

That’s what the next eight months or so will be about, and I don’t think that many of the folks you’ve seen demonstrating will give up and go home.

For my part, no, it's not over. In some ways this is the beginning. We have learned a real hard lesson about what happens when citizens become disengaged. In my experience people get somewhat involved in politics for a few months every few years and that it is pretty much it. As a result, politicians on both sides, figured out that they could act in their own interests, rather than their constituents, because quite frankly, nobody was paying attention.

We're paying attention now. We are watching every move our representatives make. We are studying policy, educating ourselves and each other, and we expect our representatives to listen to us and act in accordance to our wishes.

We know what is at stake now. We will not allow ourselves to be taken for granted again.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Jimmie Bise is reporting at The Sundries Shack that Mark Knoller used the term "tea bagger" while tweeting the president's speech. Quite frankly, I have my own nasty names for the MSM douche bags who have spent the last year and a half auditioning to be propaganda writers for The One's new world order.

Members of the Tea Party movement have been subjected to all manner of vile insults for refusing sit down and shut up in the face of tyranny. So be it. I will gladly take their insults but I will not bow while they take my liberty.

Obama pulled out the stops while talking to the Dems in Congress. He told them he understands the pressure that they are under. He told them that he knows that voting for health care reform may not be a smart political move. He said he knows because he has been where they are now.

Yes, Mr. President, you have been there. And when you were there, ever mindful of your political future you voted "present" one hundred and thirty times.

Mr. President, you are an arrogant hypocrite, who when it was your career took the chicken shit way out.

I'm sitting here looking at my Census form as the current events stream by on the television. The government wants me to fill out my census form and send it in, under penalty of law, so that I will "count". Let's be clear, I don''t count. My tax dollars count, but I don't.

The government doesn't take my tax money and use it for me. They take it and use it to buy votes from people who wouldn't dream of dragging themselves out of bed to earn their own money to support themselves. That didn't sound very nice, did it? Well it doesn't feel very nice to be used, either. Right now I feel that I am being used by my government with no regard to my needs or my wishes. Right now I feel that government is taking my money and using it to commit bribery. Right now I feel that my government is taking my money and using it to fundamentally change the relationship between government and citizens.

As Dan Riehl reminded us earlier, our founding fathers had the foresight to envision a day when tyranny would once again come to this country and they addressed that threat:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience n to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Arizona is waiting to see if ObamaCare passes. The state has acted to send a powerful message to the White House that if Obama is determined to bankrupt the nation he can leave Arizona out. Megan McArdle:

The Arizona budget is a vivid reflection of how the fiscal crisis afflicting state governments is cutting deeply into health care. The state also will roll back Medicaid coverage for childless adults in a move that is expected to eventually drop 310,000 people from the rolls.

The reason this is so troubling, of course, is that the new proposed health care plan gets about half of its coverage expansion through adding people to Medicaid. The state side of this expense doesn’t show up on the books as a government expenditure (neatly enabling the bill to get a lower CBO score), but someone in America has to be taxed to pay for it, and there is a big problem when tax revenues fall short of the required expenditure.

There are two frightening possibilities, for people who support this bill (and the rest of us, as well . . . but we’ve been frightened for a while)

1) States pull out, and coverage drops

2) States don’t pull out, and they go bankrupt.

The third, and to me the most likely scenario, is that the Federal government basically bails out the states, perhaps taking over Medicaid. But that’s its own problem, because taking over the Medicaid obligations is not going to come attached to any revenue stream to pay for it. Where are we going to get the money?

Of course, that’s what I want to know about the whole thing. But this makes the problem much more vivid.

As McArdle points out, the Dems in part got the CBO score they wanted because ObamaCare passes billions of dollars of the cost on to states. The states can’t afford this.

My own state, Florida, is already in deep financial trouble. ObamaCare will push states off a cliff. Additionally, deeply hidden in the legislation is the fact that states will be forced to pay for health care for illegals. States with large populations of illegals will get a double whammy under this legislation.

If this thing passes the states are not helpless. They can say no. So far, thirty-eight states are prepared to do just that.

This is the fight of our lives but we are fighting the good fight. I have faith that we will win. Keep up the calls and emails and be prepared to keep up the pressure long after the vote is taken.

About Me

Woke up one day and decided I'd better start paying attention. Found out that there is a direct correlation between paying attention and ulcers.
The ulcers don't bother me. Fortunately, my parents credo was "Don't let the bastards get you down!" I never have.